The Most Epic Premiere Recap Ever! James Meets Jennifer Lawrence! Josh Hutcherson! Elizabeth Banks! Liam Hemsworth! Julianne Moore! And That’s Not All! So Jealous!

Okay, well I’m officially moving to the UK. I can get used to fish and chips, and I already love Austin Powers and I can deal with James Bond, so I think that the UK is perfect for me.

You have to check it out below!

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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 World Premiere
Monday 10th November 2014

Doesn’t time fly? Precisely one year ago I was standing in Leicester Square at the world premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, getting rained on in the freezing cold. 364 days later I was back in Leicester Square for the next installment and the world premiere of Mockingjay Part 1. Ever since this premiere was announced three months or so ago, I’ve been looking forward to it for one reason only: Jennifer Lawrence would be back in London. Jennifer is one of my favourite actresses (and I definitely have a soft spot for her), especially after seeing Silver Linings Playbook, which I still think is the best film of 2013. I remember getting up super early for the BAFTA nominations last year to see if she’d be nominated, and being left so excited when her name was read out as it meant she’d almost certainly cross the pond. I was excited enough at the prospect of the chance of meeting her again here that I took a day off work. I’ve never done that to attend an event before. This was a big deal. Anyways, enough babbling, on to the premiere.

I headed over to Leicester Square, met a few friends and let the waiting game begin. I’ve been to a lot of premieres in my time, but this had, by far, the most atmospheric crowd I’ve seen (admittedly I never made it to a Harry Potter premiere, I’m sure that was crazier!). From chants of Mockingjay to the whole of Leicester Square doing the film’s three fingered salute, there was definitely an excited crowd waiting for the cast to arrive. With a countdown on the giant screen on the front of the cinema, the craziness began.

I wasn’t near where people were being dropped off, so other than for watching on the big screen there was no way of knowing who was arriving until they were within vision. First to come over to us was Gale, better known as Liam Hemsworth. This was where my dilemma began: get my Hunger Games DVD signed, and have it almost certainly not signed by Jennifer (and therefore annoy me at not being signed by the main star), or just get index cards signed. I decided to go for the latter. Hmm…. Anyways, Liam was just as friendly as he had been at the Catching Fire premiere, and he signed an index card for me before posing for a photo with me too. Off to a good start!

Liam was followed by acting legend and star of films including M*A*S*H, Don’t Look Now, Steelyard Blues and Ordinary People, Donald Sutherland! President Snow himself signed a fair few autographs for people, including an index card for me. I asked Donald if he’d mind posing for a photo, expecting him to say no, but he agreed! Definitely off to a good start!

Jena Malone, who plays Johanna Mason in the film came over next. She was really friendly, and seemed to be really excited to be at the premiere. It was all just a bit different to last year, where she said she couldn’t sign because she was late, despite being one of the first people to arrive. Jena signed an index card for me, and posed for a photo too.

Straight behind Jena was followed by Stanley Tucci aka Caesar Flickerman! The star of The Lovely Bones and the awesome Devil Wears Prada was really friendly; he signed an index card for me before posing for a photo with me that his wife (and Emily Blunt‘s sister) kindly took. This really was turning into a very good evening…

At this point my heart possibly skipped a beat as Jennifer Lawrence arrived out of view! Eek. A few minutes passed before the next person came over – one of the other people I was most hoping to meet, Julianne Moore, known for her roles in Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Big Lebowski, Far from Heaven, The Hours, Hannibal, Children of Men and The Kids Are All Right. She was really friendly, and happily signed an index card for me, before posing for a photo too. She didn’t sign at the 2010 (I think) BAFTAs, so it was nice to finally meet her here.

I spotted Skyfall, Quantum of Solace, Casino Royale, Hot Fuzz, Paul, Sherlock, Independence Day, Stargate and Tomorrow Never Dies composer David Arnold, who happily came over to sign when I called for him. He also posed for a photo, but it didn’t exactly come out brilliantly! I love some of the soundtracks that David has created, so I was happy to meet him!

He was followed by Effie Tinket, better known as Elizabeth Banks! Much to my surprise, Elizabeth signed loads of autographs, which was nice to see considering her reputation for not usually being the nicest person in the world when it comes to signing autographs. Elizabeth signed an index card for me, and posed for a photo too!

Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale star Jeffrey Wright soon followed. He signed an index card for me and posed for a photo.

The film’s producer Nina Jacobson came past next, so I got an index card signed and a photo with her.

Star of Game of Thrones and The Tudors Natalie Dormer came over next. A new addition for this film as Cressida, Natalie was super friendly. She signed an index card for me and posed for a photo. She really took her time meeting fans, which was nice of her.

Many of the contestants from this year’s X Factor arrived next. I haven’t watched the show in years, but a couple of the people I was with said that Lauren Platt is likely to win, so I got a photo with her. I could’ve got photos with pretty much all of the acts, but they were totally meaningless to me.

By this point, Jennifer had signed a load of autographs down towards the other end of the red carpet, and was now doing interviews with the press. She’s moving along, interview after interview, before turning around and coming back to sign. She’s moving pretty fast, but seems to be signing as many as she can. There must have been something in the air! My heart is in my mouth as she gets closer and closer. Then, it’s my turn. in my head, I calmly asked her to sign my Silver Linings Playbook photo to James. However, I think the more accurate description is that I babbled utter nonsense about how much I love the film and how happy I was at that precise moment to meet her. Jennifer kindly signed my photo! Happy James!!

I then asked her for a photo, expecting a third refusal following the Catching Fire premiere at the BAFTAs last year. However, much to my sheer and utter excitement and love, she says yes. Cue the happiest person in all of Leicester Square (edit: the happiest person in all of London) and what might possibly be my all time favourite photo. I don’t think I can put it into words how happy I was.

My head at this point thought “you know, this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity”. So I asked Jennifer if she could sign my Silver Linings Playbook DVD. She did. That’s not the best bit though, my Hunger Games DVD sleeve was inside the Silver Linings one. Not only did she sign the first, but also signed the Hunger Games DVD too. Speechless!!!

I was utterly the happiest person ever at that point. I could’ve left at that moment and it would have been the best premiere ever. But, it wasn’t quite the end yet. Peeta aka Josh Hutcherson came over a few minutes later. Third Hunger Games premiere and third time lucky, as I missed Josh at the first two premieres. He signed an index card for me, and posed for a photo too. Finally met the trio!

The last person to come over was Sam Claflin, who plays Finnick. I know him best for a TV-film, United, in which he played Duncan Edwards. It’s well worth a watch, even if you’re not a football fan. Anyways, Sam was as friendly as ever; he signed an index card for me and posed for a photo too.

And that, as they say, was that. I left Leicester Square having met every single cast member that was in London. I don’t think that has ever happened before! 24 hours later I still can’t believe how awesome Jennifer was. The whole evening, from the atmosphere to who I met, was just amazing. And to top it all off, I left Leicester Square and headed to the Roundhouse, where I finally saw one of my favourite bands Counting Crows live. So happy!

2014. You’ve been the best!

Check out more of James Adventures in London here!